How to Drive Columbia's Roundabouts

The “modern” roundabout has come into favor recently as an effective means of controlling traffic at intersections. Roundabouts more effectively minimize delay and have a better safety performance than stop controlled intersections when it comes to high severity collisions. The new roundabouts have improved geometric design over the older roundabout found in North America in the 1960’s and offer overall better performance than their predecessors or intersections.

Navigating a Single-Lane Roundabout

Roundabouts are intersections that direct traffic in a counterclockwise direction about a center island. They have no stop signs or traffic signals. Yield signs, directional signs, and pavement markings guide traffic through the intersection.

Approaching vehicles must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and to traffic in the roundabout. When you enter, yield to circulating traffic from the left, but do not stop if it is clear.

Motorists:

1) Approach: Slow Down to the posted speed. Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk; they have the right-of-way.

2) Enter: Yield to vehicles from the left in the roundabout. Wait for a gap in traffic, and merge into traffic in the roundabout in a counterclockwise direction.

3) Proceed: Continue through the roundabout until you reach your street. Never stop in the roundabout.

4) Exit: Signal, then exit the roundabout to your right. Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Pedestrians:

1) Approach: At the pedestrian crosswalk, look LEFT.

2) Cross: Cross to the raised or painted splitter or refuge. Look RIGHT. Finish crossing to the opposite sidewalk.

Cyclists:

1) Cyclists can walk their bicycles across the pedestrian crosswalk.

2) Experienced cyclists may navigate roundabouts like motorists. Do not hug the curb. Ride in the middle of the lane to prevent vehicles from passing you. Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalks.